[WIP] - My TA re-modeling and re-design

[Argh]

the same unit in 2 diffrent mods is fail

Wait... like all of the OTA stuff that's used in mod after mod? Hmm...

becaus there will be a day when some *A mods dont depend on otacontent.sdz

Other than the *A mods eventually leeching content off of CA, to try and compete visually, just like they're leeching everything else from that project... sorry, I think that's just never happening.

Moreover, stuff that looks like the OTA content... is still in violation of copyright. You can't just make, say, a Peewee based on a Cavedog render, make it look good, and say, "this is no longer infringing". It doesn't work like that. Making faithful remakes is just keeping copyright violation alive and well, as well as being the surefire way for a modeler to spend lots of time dealing with hostile responses from trolls. Better to just make generic stuff that anybody can use, imo. Less time wasted and a lot less hassle.

But meh, do whatever you want, it's your free time.

[clericvash]

Argh next to one one honestly cares about the TA IP, they just want to make better looking models that is all, and hey i still play *A games now and then and i think better looking units would make me want to play more.

[Cremuss]

@ clericvash : Thx =)

@ smoth : You are right about the waste of polys : that what I said "My one : added a ground base and some details at each corners (too much loss of polys at the moment)" It's juste the first release, so they are not finished at the moment ! Low Polygon modeling art is all about waste of poly and removing details on the mesh that you can set on the texture so I try to take care about all that stuff

@ Argh : Feel free to give your opinion =)
I know that doing a "Metal Extractor" make the mesh usable only in Total Annihilation game and that doing "generic" stuff should be very more usefull about my project etc... But I've decided to start by remodeling TA units because I really like TA universe and that I'm currently learning a lot of things on modeling art while making all of these stuff... I do that because I want to and I think it's a good way to start my project even If it useless... If it really is useless, it's not important because I do something I like to do and that I'm learning a lot :)
So when i'll finish with TA, i'll make generic stuff, probably Fantasy stuff first
I'm offering something to Spring community, they do what they want with this stuff, I just want to do something I like =)
Also thanks for the informations :))

@ Hoi : Thx for your support =p

[smoth]

by all means keep up the good work, the earlier stuff is good. I didn't mean to come across like I was dismissing your work off hand. I love seeing people making things.

[REVENGE]

Cremuss, I'm no fan of your Guardian model, but I think the Adv. Solar and Energy Storage models are spot on. Listen to smoth's advice about model efficiency, but otherwise that looks like a great start.

[Cremuss]

@ smoth : =)

@ REVENGE : So give me ideas, pictures, images to improve my guardian
Feel free to give all kind of suggestions !

[REVENGE]

Alright then, I want to see a Guardian with less angular features, and a more rounded base? And the barrels should be two-staged, with a part that would withdraw upon firing due to recoil.

[Hoi]

the same unit in 2 diffrent mods is fail

Wait... like all of the OTA stuff that's used in mod after mod? Hmm...

becaus there will be a day when some *A mods dont depend on otacontent.sdz

Other than the *A mods eventually leeching content off of CA, to try and compete visually, just like they're leeching everything else from that project... sorry, I think that's just never happening.

I'm talking about diffrent mods, that means all *A mods go in the same group

Moreover, stuff that looks like the OTA content... is still in violation of copyright. You can't just make, say, a Peewee based on a Cavedog render, make it look good, and say, "this is no longer infringing". It doesn't work like that. Making faithful remakes is just keeping copyright violation alive and well, as well as being the surefire way for a modeler to spend lots of time dealing with hostile responses from trolls. Better to just make generic stuff that anybody can use, imo. Less time wasted and a lot less hassle.

But meh, do whatever you want, it's your free time.

Gundam is fan art, this is fan art,no otacontent used, no copyright violation.

[Cremuss]

Ok, some tweaking, lots of tris gains at the counter :
How it look likes now ;

Guardian : 244 poly (I'm think I'll keep this design, sorry REVENGE ;p)
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/guardian/render/6.jpg
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/guard ... nshot9.jpg

Metal Extractor : 272 (mod done now)
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/metal ... nder/9.jpg
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/metal ... nshot7.jpg

Adv Solar : 130 (done ?)
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/advsolar/render/2.jpg
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/advso ... nshot2.jpg

Energy storage : 232 (done ?)
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/energ ... nder/2.jpg
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/energ ... nshot2.jpg

[Warlord Zsinj]

Those are all looking very nice actually. I'm glad someone has the commitment to actually go and do the standard support units rather then the favourites.

Don't forget though, that these days there are quite a few modellers around (though not that many really good ones), but there are almost no texture artists about, so these models could well go unused unless you yourself can go about texturing them.

[REVENGE]

Meh, Guardian is improved, although I still don't like it quite as much. :/

I really like the Mex, Solar, and Storage designs though. Would you be texturing those as well, or are you just modeling? Either way, I would like to use them!

[Cremuss]

@ Warlord Zsinj : I know, textures will be the problem I can eventually textures them if there is nobody but it will not be professionnal look huhu .( and I think there will be nobody cause I don't know lot of peoples who likes doing only the textures stuff huhu )
Thanks =)

@ REVENGE : Ok I'm happy that you like a little bit more my guardian (and the other stuff :)) but I still don't like it as I like my mex or adv solar huhu... :/ I'll tweak and tweak the mesh until I have a nice design :)
I'm actually only modeling cause I don't really like texturing, so i'll continue only modeling for a while, until I had 10-15 mesh. Then I'll think about the textures, if nobody would textures them, I'll do myself. I don't like to see my mesh looking gray even if I do horrible textures
I'm happy you want to use them, but you'll have to wait a bit :p

[Warlord Zsinj]

To make the guardian more interesting, think about the cool parts of it in TA and elucidate them.

When I think the guardian, I think, long range, slow turret, kickback of the guns.

So, maybe design in an element where a shell can be ejected as it fires, something like you find on a gun, but larger scale: http://i.pbase.com/u13/garmenlee/large/ ... ure074.jpg

And/Or, you could design some sort of funky shell reloading mechanism. Just little details like that can add a lot of interest to a unit. The trick is adding them without having them become the focus of the design, or distracting from the design.

With regards to texturing, if you want to see these in-game, I suspect you're best off spending your free time teaching yourself how to do nice textures rather then making new models, as you evidently already have enough modelling ability to move ahead.

[Hoi]

eh, warlord that's a forbidden link

[[Krogoth86]]

So, maybe design in an element where a shell can be ejected as it fires, something like you find on a gun, but larger scale: http://i.pbase.com/u13/garmenlee/large/ ... ure074.jpg

And/Or, you could design some sort of funky shell reloading mechanism. Just little details like that can add a lot of interest to a unit. The trick is adding them without having them become the focus of the design, or distracting from the design.

I don't know why so many people think there should be shells in TA like in CA for the Flash or even Krog. They use plasma weapons and plasma weapons need no shells. Without going into all the technical details (because it's just a game!) they just fire some tremendously hot enclosed plasma balls so there's no need for shells at all...

@Cremuss:
I really like your reworked Guardian shown on this screenie. Good job!

Before my "old" PC died a couple of weeks ago I was training to texture. Maybe I should hurry continuing this again... ^^

[Warlord Zsinj]

bleh, I was referring to the part on a rifle where the used bullet shell is discharged.

[Cremuss]

Ok, so some people likes guardian, some doesn't like, I've to decide : D
I'll definitly finish guardian, mex, adv solar and energy storage (UVs) tonight (gonna release .obj and .blend files)
I've started 3 new mesh : (first release, design testing...)

Original metal storage :


My one, about 220 polys. I've keeped the "massive" aspect of it :http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/metal ... nder/1.jpg

Original solar :


My one, 120 polys. Simple design, I justed added some details to the mesh
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/solar/render/1.jpg

Original energy convertor :


My one, I've tried something a bit different... The design is a bit tricky at the moment huhu
http://cremuss.free.fr/fodb/files/energ ... nder/1.jpg

[Warlord Zsinj]

These are all excellent. I especially like the metal storage. It'd be even sexier if it had some sort of unfolding animation.

However, as said earlier, I'd really hate to see these models go to waste without a texture...

[Otherside]

nice stuff come work for CA

[Dragon45]

I suggest you save your effort and ask on TAU boards for old meshes of these things. There already exist about 2 or 3 very-good, high-poly versions of just about every TA unit in existence. Texturing is the hard part here.